Trekking in Oman

Trekking in Oman is pretty popular, not least because of the gorgeous landscape of the country. Those unfamiliar with it might imagine something largely desolate and unforgiving-say, the sort of picture that goes best with The Empty Quarter-but Oman actually has a rather interesting geography. It has some lush coasts with sapphire waters and impressive wadis (oases) with huge gorges and waterfalls. Even its sands can be beautiful, as seen in the ever-popular Wahiba Sands.

Go Trekking in Oman

There are a lot of places to visit here for your trek, and some of the most popular are fringed by waters that make it possible to take on a boat ride of some sort afterwards too, or even to go diving. Take Bandar Khayran, for instance. This famous reserve is a favourite with the Omani trekkers, especially as it is so accessible from the capital. The mountains here are rocky and reddish, and the clear blue waters beside them add to the beauty of the setting.

Another popular spot for trekkers is the Green Mountain, or Al Jabal Al Akhdar. To access this gorgeous range of dry and rocky gorges mixed with hidden valleys and terraces of the most lush greenery, you have to pass through a beautiful wadi, the Wadi Muayden. This is among the largest of the Omani oases, and it is very popular with tourists due to its year-round water.

The wadis themselves offer a good number of trekking opportunities, so check with your guide if the wadis you are passing are any good for hiking or adventuring. You might luck into discoveries like the Wadi Bani Awf’s Snake Canyon, for instance, which requires quite a bit of work indeed to conquer. Other, even more experienced zipliners, trekkers, and climbers could try going to the wonderful Majilis Al Jinn Cave in the Muscat area too. It is among the largest caves of its type in the entire world, and with a height of over 100m for its domelike ceiling, this is easy to believe. And it is even longer and wider than it is tall.

There are even more opportunities to be found all around the country. Take the impressive Jabal Shams, for instance. This is a truly imposing peak-in fact, to it goes the title of the most imposing (that is, the highest) peak in the entire Arab Peninsula. This mountain has over 3000m of height to it. It is thus among the most favoured of the trekking and hiking spots in Oman, at least where the more daring and experienced are concerned. Fortunately, there have been many guest homes already erected on the slopes of the mount for people coming to try and conquer it, or simply for those looking to spend a night on it to appreciate its beauty for a day.

One thing that must be noted for those looking to do some trekking in Oman is that due to the country’s location, heat can be a difficult enemy on your trip. The best way to avoid difficulties with it is to go hiking or trekking during the cooler months of the country, which would mean the stretch from October straight through March/April.

Sarah loves traveling the world. She started with a simple domestic trip and the rest was history, including her savings. She has been living around South East Asia for the past years and another continent looks to be her next destination.